ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 21 REFRIGERANTS limited due to the different safety class or significantly different performance characteristics of the very low GWP alternatives. Currently the only potential retrofit option for these products is R-470B which has a moderate GWP of 753. It would make much more sense to plan to use a low or very low GWP refrigerant from day one and avoid the uncertainty and potential future costs. There are many options already available (table 3). Table 3 - Very low GWP R-404A alternatives Refrigerant GWP Safety Class R-290 3 A3 R-1270 2 A3 R-454A 239 A2L R-454C 148 A2L R-455A 148 A2L R-717 0 B2L R-744 1 A1 Most of these alternatives will require a higher initial investment cost than the higher GWP options, but in many cases improved energy efficiency reduces the lifetime operating costs meaning the total cost of ownership (TCO) will be lower. This emphasises the importance to compare the overall performance of various technologies as the lowest GWP refrigerant does not always give the best energy performance and therefore not the best TCO. In addition, regulations and standards may limit the choice of refrigerants that can be used in different applications but suppliers like Climalife will be able to give advice on refrigerant performance and safety requirements. Refrigerant choice in the air conditioning and heat pump sectors In the air conditioning and heat pump sectors the choice of refrigerant is typically more led by the equipment manufacturer (OEM). Many OEMs are already supplying equipment with low or very low GWP refrigerants (table 4) covering the majority of applications. Wherever possible a low GWP option should be chosen to ensure long term sustainability of the equipment . Choosing a system operating with R-410A will require availability of reclaimed refrigerant for service requirements well before the end of the equipment lifetime, and the only available retrofit option is R470A which also has a relatively high GWP of 980. Any systems using R-407C also face an uncertain future as no retrofit options exist. The F-Gas review Another consideration before making any choice is the high probability that the F-Gas regulatory review, which is ongoing as you read this article, will introduce even stricter controls on the availability of higher GWP refrigerants and potentially could accelerate Table 4 - Low GWP for AC & HP applications Refrigerant Typical Equipment Type GWP Safety Class R-1233zd(E) Chiller 5 A1 R-1234ze(E) Chiller 7 A2L R-454B Chiller 466 A2L R-513A Chiller 631 A1 R-32 Split / Chiller/HP 675 A2L R-454C HP 148 A2L R-290 Monobloc AC/HP 3 A3 R-514A Chiller 7 B1 For information regarding this article, please contact: Mel Summers, Marketing Manager, Climalife UK Tel: +44 117 980 2520 | Email: msummers@climalife.dehon.com the demise of the higher GWP refrigerants. As we move deeper into the rabbit hole of the F-Gas phasedown it is sometimes difficult to see the route to compliance but there is often a solution and the team at Climalife always have the latest information to be able to provide guidance. Remember to plan for Total Cost of Ownership In these times of high costs and limited budgets it’s easy to fall into the trap of choosing the cheapest available option, but as we rapidly approach the next step in the current phasedown, taking time to choose a sustainable option, with a beneficial total cost of ownership, will demonstrate its value well after the 2023 budgets have closed.